Latest from Natural Disasters

Mudslide: Families pursued to their deaths

Highway 530 once led drivers on a winding route along tree-lined valleys between the Pacific Ocean and the snow-capped Cascade Mountains.

Charlotte Grimshaw: Eerie city reveals its broken heart

Derelict buildings are scary. I know this from experience.

Alarming verdict on year of wild weather

The world's leading meteorological authority suggests that many of last year's weather extremes are likely to have been heavily influenced by rising global temperatures.

Washington mudslides: Hope dwindles for 174 still missing

Hopes are dwindling of finding any survivors among the 174 people missing after a mudslide buried part of a small Washington state town under 6m of sludge and debris.

Coastal Asia most at risk, says UN

People in coastal regions of Asia, particularly those living in cities, could face some of the worst effects of global warming, climate experts will warn this week.

Lusi fun for daredevils

Former cyclone Lusi proved to be more of a wind bag than a raging beast - to the delight of beach-bound thrillseekers.

Japan's long recovery from disaster

In some areas, the number of people who have died from illnesses related to the quake and tsunami is higher than those who died directly from the disasters.

Kids significantly affected by quakes

The ongoing impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes are disproportionately impacting children from low-income families, with health problems and family violence on the rise, a new report says.

Flood victims point finger at govt

Mick Dummer got a nasty shock when he arrived at work.

Houses 'explode' in bushfire

Homes "exploded" as a massive grassfire that started on Melbourne's northern fringe burned through regional areas, residents say.

Aussies flee worst fires since 2009

Australia was burning again last night, with homes lost and flames licking at the outskirts of Melbourne as much of South Australia.

Family's king tide drama

Tired, panicking and gulping sea water, a grandfather struggled to hold on to his 8-year-old granddaughter in strong currents at an East Auckland beach yesterday.

Safe as houses until disaster strikes

Visiting expert points to Christchurch as example of cities or cultures that struggle to recover after catastrophe.

Pensioner wins apology from police

'It will be nice to have an apology.' Police are to compensate pensioner John Bennett for the way he was roughed up by armed officers in his own home two years ago.

Monsoon misery in Indonesia

Flooding has forced thousands to evacuate Indonesia's capital city once again, as monsoon rains wreaked havoc on Jakarta.

Hundreds of quake claims lodged

Hundreds of quake damage claims have been lodged as a result of the severe magnitude 6.2 tremor that damaged homes and cut power.